ABSTRACT
Scratch is a visual programming language, recently released as an app for mobile devices. According to the Scratch creators from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Scratch is not only a creative but also an empowering tool because it broadens the range of what children can do on a computer. In addition to Scratch, other programming languages are available for young students. For younger children, Hopscotch and Daisy the Dinosaur are free apps available for tablets and iPads, emulating the Scratch user interface. The Scratch website makes it possible for projects to be shared across the globe and for the community members to comment on and add to existing animations and games. Scratch is used to visualise complex procedures and concepts, for example the water cycle or food chain as part of the KS2 Science curriculum. Flip Flap Safari app can be used in the context of computational thinking and relating coding to literacy activities.
